She was on the veranda as he rode up that morning attended by his
servant.
"Ah, Mr. Walter," she cried, "but I'm glad to see you! You're a sight for
sair een, sir. I hope ye've come to stay a bit."
He had given the reins to his servant and dismounted. "Yes," he said,
shaking hands with her, "for two or three days, Mrs. Murray."
"That's gude news, sir. Will ye come in and take a bite or sup o'
something?"
"Thank you, not now. I'll just sit here for a moment. The air is
delightful this morning."
"So it is, sir. And do ye bring ony news frae our friends in Naples?"
"No; I have heard nothing since I saw you last."
"But what's this, Mr. Walter, that I hear the servants saying aboot a
fight wi' the United States troops?"
"Fort Sumter has fallen, Mrs. Murray. There's an account of the whole
affair," he added, taking a newspaper from his pocket and handing it to
her.
She received it eagerly, and with a hearty thanks.
"I am going out into the grounds," he said, and walked away, leaving her
to its perusal.
He strolled down a green alley, inspected it, the lawns, the avenue, the
flower and vegetable gardens, to see that all were in order; held a few
minutes' conversation with the head gardener, making some suggestions and
bestowing deserved praise of his faithful performance of his duties; then
wandering on, at length seated himself in Elsie's bower, and took from his
breast-pocket--where he had constantly carried it of late--a small
morocco-bound, gilt-edged volume.
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